Benchmarking of Parental Control Tools for the Online Protection of Children
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Benchmarking of parental control tools for the online protection of children FINAL REPORT A study prepared for the European Commission DG Communications Networks, Content & Technology by: Digital Single Market SIP-BENCH III - Benchmarking of parental control tools Final Report for the online protection of children This study was carried out for the European Commission by: INNOVA Srl (Italy) Ms. Antonella Vulcano [email protected] CYBION Srl (Italy) Ms. Rina Angeletti [email protected] Stiftung Digitale Chancen (Germany) Dr. Carola Croll [email protected] Internal identification Contract number: 30-CE-0528769/00-05 SMART number: 2012/0044 DISCLAIMER By the European Commission, Directorate-General of Communications Networks, Content & Technology. The information and views set out in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on the Commission’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. ISBN 978-92-79-70499-4 doi:10.2759/80227 © European Union, 2017. All rights reserved. Certain parts are licensed under conditions to the EU. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. 2 SIP-BENCH III - Benchmarking of parental control tools Final Report for the online protection of children ABSTRACT Today, accessing the Internet has become an essential part of our daily lives. From an early age, children live in a digital environment and grow up using a wide range of interconnected devices for various activities (learning, entertainment, communication with family and friends, pastimes). Apart from opportunities and advantages, the Internet also carries threats to children and youths, from access to inappropriate content (e.g. pornography, violence, self-harm) to exposure to online predators or dangerous behaviour which they can be either victims or authors of (e.g. sexting, cyberbullying). In this framework, parents’ supervision and monitoring of online activity of their children and youngsters is essential. The market offers a broad range of parental control systems able to block or filter content, manage the use, monitor activities, set time limits and quotas. SIP-BENCH III is a benchmarking study procured by the European Commission's DG CONNECT under the Safer Internet Programme1. The study has been conducted as a benchmarking exercise on a selected list of parental control tools available in the market to raise awareness, provide users (parents and carers) with an overview of the existing parental control tools and support them in the selection of tools that best match their needs. 1 Decision No 1351/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies, published in the Official Journal L 348 of 24.12.2008, p.118. 3 SIP-BENCH III - Benchmarking of parental control tools Final Report for the online protection of children Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 1. Parental control tools and the overall context .................................................................................................. 6 2. The SIP-BENCH III Benchmarking Study ............................................................................................................. 8 2.1. The Study framework ............................................................................................................................. 8 2.2. The Methodology applied .................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1. Users of parental control tools: needs, risks and threats ........................................................... 11 2.2.2. Selection of Tools ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.2.3. Data test set creation and renewal ............................................................................................. 16 2.2.4. Categorisation of the data test set ............................................................................................. 16 2.2.5. Database creation ....................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.6. Assessment of the tools: Functionality tests .............................................................................. 18 2.2.7. Assessment of the tools: Effectiveness tests .............................................................................. 19 2.2.8. Assessment of the tools: Usability tests ..................................................................................... 21 2.2.9. Assessment of the tools: Security tests ...................................................................................... 22 2.3. The validation process through the Steering Board ............................................................................. 24 3. Results of the 4 benchmarking cycles ............................................................................................................. 26 3.1. Tools tested in the four testing cycles.................................................................................................. 26 3.2. Overview of main findings of the four testing cycles ........................................................................... 29 3.2.1. Rationale of the classification of tests results ............................................................................ 29 3.2.2. Scoring methods ......................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.3. Main results in the four testing cycles ........................................................................................ 31 3.3. The first testing cycle ........................................................................................................................... 34 3.4. The second testing cycle ...................................................................................................................... 38 3.5. The third testing cycle .......................................................................................................................... 41 3.6. The forth testing cycle .......................................................................................................................... 43 4. SIP-BENCH III towards the target community: overview of dissemination activities ...................................... 48 4.1. Dissemination tools .............................................................................................................................. 48 4.2. Dissemination of the benchmarking cycles results .............................................................................. 54 5. An overview of the tools prices ....................................................................................................................... 55 6. Overall view of parental control tools’ potential to protect children/teenagers ............................................ 56 7. The identified emerging trends ....................................................................................................................... 60 8. Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................... 64 8.1. Parents ................................................................................................................................................. 65 8.2. Tool providers ...................................................................................................................................... 68 8.3. Policy Makers ....................................................................................................................................... 70 9. Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................................... 73 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................................... 76 Annex .................................................................................................................................................................... 78 4 SIP-BENCH III - Benchmarking of parental control tools Final Report for the online protection of children Introduction Children and youths are becoming one of the main user groups2 of online and mobile technologies in Europe. In 2015, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) recognised the potential of the Internet and other ICTs to improve children’s access to learning, information, health, participation and play. However, it also aroused the concern that Internet access increases the risks to children, resulting in calls for their protection3. The EU has supported and promoted a safer use of the Internet through the Safer Internet programmes since 1999, with the aim of educating users (particularly children, parents and carers),